By Katie Benfield
Grandfather Mountain State Park will host its Go G.R.E.E.N. Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. This free program is open to the public and will serve as a celebration of natural resources and environmental education.
Go G.R.E.E.N., or Grandfather Mountain Reaching Environmental Education Now, will offer fun for people of all ages and will be informative for anyone who attends.
While enjoying the fun activities, such as playing amphibian games and visiting wildlife from Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary, people will also learn a variety of skills and information, which includes how to live safely with bears, all about different types of wildlife and the state park.
Additionally, the newest hiking gear from Footsloggers will be on display, and there will be a wide selection of exhibits and demonstrations.
GMSP Superintendent Sue McBean said the event will help the community better understand and enjoy the park’s natural treasures.
“In these days of increasing time spent indoors and people living virtually through computers and social networks, it’s nice to be reminded that actually being outside can be an experience like no other — sights, sounds and sensations from the natural world are pleasantly surprising to many people,” McBean said. “If we don’t learn about and experience our natural world, future generations won’t have the interest in preserving and protecting what we are so blessed to have.”
The Go G.R.E.E.N. event is also being put on in order to celebrate the 2015 Year of the Amphibian.
“Each year, N.C. State Parks selects a theme. This year, it’s amphibians,” McBean said. “Rangers have training opportunities to learn about the theme and how to interpret the them to visitors. We’re promoting our resources to the public.”
The Year of the Amphibian is celebrated by North Carolina State Parks, and they will be full of activities all throughout 2015.
McBean said she and the park staff look forward to the weekend’s events.
“We appreciate our visitors and those who support their state park,” McBean said. “We hope that people will stop by and say hello. We’d like to get to know our community!”
The event will take place, rain or shine, as there are indoor facilities. If there is no rain, the event will be held in the Foscoe/Grandfather Community Park on N.C. Highway 105.